Violent crimes soared in Los Angeles County, California, so far this year because criminals are emboldened by progressive law enforcement policies and the “defund the police” movement, the county’s sheriff said. In an interview with Fox News last week, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the county has seen 60 homicides during the first two months of 2021, a 186 percent jump from the 21 people killed in the time frame in 2020. Villanueva specifically blamed new Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, a Democrat who was elected to lead the nation’s largest prosecutorial office in December 2020, amid the widespread unrest and calls to “defund the police” following the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police. Gascón’s victory over incumbent district attorney Jackie Lacey was seen as a repudiation by voters of more traditional, tough-on-crime policies, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I recognize …